General description.

The Short-eared Owl is found in grasslands and marshes. Though it is nocturnal, it can often be seen during the day. This bird hunts at night. It eats mostly rodents but it will also eat small birds. During the breeding season, this bird is monogamous and sometimes forms small colonies. A mated pair raises one brood per year. The female lays 3-11 white eggs in the nest found in grass or reeds. If an intruder is coming close to the nest, this bird uses a crippled-bird display to lure the predator away. This bird is fairly common, but has disappeared from its Southern range due to habitat loss.

Flight pattern.

Erratic darting.

Breeding habits.

Monogamous.

Calls or song.

eeee-yerp and waowk, waowk, waowk and toot-toot-toot-toot-toot

Population and distribution.

Fairly common.

Nesting habits.

The Short-eared Owl nests in grass and reed and lays 3-11 white eggs in April.